Mechanical selector



Jan. 19, 1932. CTLOGIODICE ET L 1,841,373

MECHANI CAL SELECTOR Filed April 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1932. c. LOGlODlCE ET AL 7 MECHANICAL SELECTOR Filed April 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m/ a m Jan. 19, 1932. c' gg omcg ET 1,841,373

" MECHANICAL SELECTOR Filed April 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Frgl Q, m. 'gigthzb Jan. 19, 1932. c. LOGIODICE ET AL MECHANICAL SELECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1951 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE CARMEN LOGIODICE, OF PITTSBURGH, ANDRAYMOND CLYDE HITESHUE, OF

NEW, KENSINGTON,PENN SYLV AN IA.

MECHANICAL SELECTOR Application filed April 6, 1931. Serial No. 527,877.

The invention relates to selecting mechanism; that is, to mechanism which may be first adjusted and then actuated to effect the desired operation of a device (either mechanical or electrical) which has capacity fora plurality of operations, each different in result. Notice is hereby given of our pending application Serial No. 546,040, filed June 22, 1931-, directed to method of selectively controlling apparatus.

Primarily our selecting mechanism comprises two disks, or two sets of disks, each disk being revolubly mounted, andprovided upon its peripheral face with graduations. In this case we have shown the graduations on each disk to be numerals, to be ten in number, and to be numbered consecutively from- O to 9. For convenience in description let us say that the selector consists only of one pair of disks; the theory of operation is as follows: There being ten possible positions in whichithe disks may be adjusted, it follows that :(provided that other essential means are organized with the disks, as in fact such means are organized) the selector may be adjusted to produce'any one of ten diflerent results. Not only is our'mechanism adapted, upon adjustment, to select which one of several results may beaccomplished, but is further adapted to check the position in which it hasbeenadj usted before its actuation may be completed. That is to say, for example, if the result obtained in the sixth position of the indexed disks be desired, the attendant first rotates one disk, bringing the numeral 6 on such disk to a predetermined position. Due to the human element, carelessness, or accident, an attendant will from timeto time, if it be not prevented, set an index .at a different position from that in which he really intended to set it. To prevent such a thing from happening, in the case of our device, we make it necessary that a second index (the second disk of the. pair), shall'be moved lnto such POSItlOlIflS to correspond exactly with the setting of the firstmentioned disk before the mechanism may be actuated in its selecting capacity.

It is obvious that an attendant will rarely make two identicalerrors inthe setting of two vis correctly set, actuation of the selector will be impossible, and so the selector is for all practical purposes fool proof.

'Having outlined in more or less detail the principles which we have in mind we shall now proceed to describe our invention in only two of the many applications to which it may be put. a s In the accompanying drawings Fig. I; is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of the selecting mechanism; Fig. II is a View in front elevation of the same ;.Fig. III is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a diskmember of modified structure; Fig. IV

is another view of a'disk, showing still another modification in structure; Fig. V is a diagrammatic view in front elevation of an elaboration of the device, in which three pairs of disks are organized in such manner as to control accurately the operation of a change-making devicethat is, a moneychanging machine; and Figs. VI, VII, and VIII are diagrammatic views showing certain lever elements of the device of Fig. V in three of thepositions which they may assume. Our mechanism is more or less diagrammatically indicated in the drawings; such illustration facilitates understanding, and clearly presents sufiicient structure to enable the ordinary engineer or mechanic to build a machineembodying the invention. The mechanism may find many uses, and we have illustrated two adaptations in which it serves to advantage. In Figs. I'and II there is shown a switch panel A for controlling the operation of remotely located electrical equipment. Such equipment is not shown, suffice it tosay that,'as one or the other? of the switches or push buttons upon the panel is shifted, the desired operation of the electrical equipment is effected. In this case we show ten push buttons on the panel A; they are numbered consecutively from to 9, and it is in the accurate selection and operation of the push button which is intended to be operated that our mechanism is employed.

The mechanisi'n comprises a manually adjustable index which in this case is shown as a disk or wheel 10, bearing upon its peripheral face (Fig. II) the numerals N. These numerals are arranged consecutively from to 9, and at equal intervals upon the face of the wheel. The wheel. is revolubly borne by a shaft 11, which shaft may be supported in any convenient frame or housing (not shown). Means are organized to respond to movement of the wheel these means comprise a lever 12 which is pivotally supported at 13 the lever includes an arcnate gear 1-1 which meshes with a pinion 15. Accordingly, the lever swings when the wheel 10 is mamially turned to shift the numerals within their angular range of travel. In Fig. I the arrow It indicates a fixed point, which, as presently will appear, serves as an index to admit of adjustment of the wheel relatively to other elements. The propertions and design of the arcuate gear 14 and pinion 15 are such that, as the wheel 10 is revolved to move one or another of the numerals N into position adjacent the index or arrow R, the lever 12 is caused to move on axis 13 through an angle which is propor tional to the distance through which the wheel has moved. That is to say, the position of the lever 12 varies according as the wheel 10 is adjusted.

A second index or wheel 16 is provided; it is revoluble on a shaft 17, and is numbered on its periphery as the wheel 10 is numbered. The essen -e of our invention is that both wheels 10 and 16 must be correspondingly setin this case, corresponding indicating numbers on each wheel must be opposite the fixed indices (arrows R)-before the mechanism will operate the apparatus with which it is associated; that is, before any of the push buttons on panel A may be depressed. For example, cf. Fig. I, when both wheels are set at the numeral. live, the device may be operated to depress push button No. 5 on the panel, and, unless such correspondence in the setting of wheels 10 and 16 is accomplished, means will function to prevent such operation of the device.

In Fig. III we show a modified structure associated with the wheel 10 to effect the positioning of the lever 12 in accord ance with the adjustment of the wheel. Pins 20 are provided on the side of the wheel; there is a pin 20 for each numeral on the face of the wheel; together the pins form a spiral in outline; the pin nearest the center of shaft 11 correspends in relative position to O on the face of the wheel, the next pin in line corresponds to the wheel numeral 1, the next to numeral 2, and so on until the pin radially farthest from the shaft 11 is reached, and it, of course, corresponds to the greatest numeral (nine) on the wheel. At the terminus of lever 12 there is provided a pin-rider 21, and, therefore, as the wheel 10 is rotated from one position of adjustment to another, the pins 20 cause the le er 12 to swing, and to take an angular position which precisely corresponds to a particular numerical setting of the wheel. That is to say, the lever 12 is adjustable in accord ance with the adjustment of the wheel 10.

Still another modification is shown in Fig. IV. Here we show a spiral cam 22 secured to the wheel 10, and the end of lever '12 in cludes a cam-rider 23; manifestly the co-oporation between the lever 12 and wheel 10 is here realized, as well as in the arrange ment of pins 20, or in gear and pinion device 14, 15, above described.

If desired, a star wheel 2 1 may be secured to each index wheel; a roller under the urging of a spring 26, may be caused to ride the periphery of the star wheel, and, mum festly, by appropriately forn'iing the star wheel, the index wheel may be yieldingly stayed in any one of the numbered positions in which. it is adjusted.

lVe have shown that the position of the arm or lever 12 varies according as the inoex wheel 10 is adjusted, and now we shall describe in conjunction with index wnecl 16 the linkage which may be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which the selecting mechanism is organized, such apparatus in this case being the switch-board panel A. In a suitable support 13 a stem 27 is revolubly secured; the top of the stem is bifurcated, conveniently, and an arm 28 pin-connected thereto, at 29. To the lower end of stem 27 there is pivotally secured an arm 30; a rod 31 interconnects the arms 28, 30, to the end that as the arm 28 swings about its pivot 29 (in this instance such swinging is in a vertical plane) tie 30 will swing similarly. The arm or lever 28 is also adapted for ro tary movement about a vertical axis; i. e. the stem 27 is revoluble, and, as the lever 28 is rotated in the manner last mentioned, the arm 30 swings with it. A shifting rod is notched. at 33; the lever 28 lies within this notch in each of its various angular positions in the vertical. So, when the rod 32 is shifted to the right (Fi II) the levers 28, 30 swing; that is to say, the lever 30 swings toward the panel A.

The outer end of lever 30 is provided with a portion 80a, which is adapted (as such lever so swung about the said vertical axis) to engage one or another of the push buttons on the panel A, and to effect its depression. It will be understood that, if the lever 30 is first selectively adjusted in a vertical plane, then swung in the manner described, actuation of any one of the push buttons -9 may be efiected. It is to this end that connections are provided between the above-described means which are associated with wheel 10 and the linkage which is associated with wheel 16. These connections are indicated by the reference numeral 34. It will be manifest, in view of the foregoing description, that,.as the index wheel 10 is revolved, the linkage associated with wheel 16 will be moved into a position in'accordance with the setting or the adjusted position of the index wheel 10. That is, when index wheel 10 is set at 0, theend30a of arm 30 Will be at a level with push button No. 0 on panel A; when the index wheel is set at numeral 1, the end 30a will be at a level with push button No. 1, etc. and in the drawings we show the index wheel lO-set'at 5, whereby the end of arm 30 is caused to lie opposite push button No. 5. Were it not for the second wheel 16, and for other means 7 to be presently described, the shifting rod 32 could without more ado be actuated to effect the operation of push button No. 5.

However, as we have said, it is our object that necessarily a second numbered wheel, or other index, shall be movedinto position corresponding with the osition' of the initially adjusted index, be ore an actuation of the selecting mechanism may be effected, to operate the apparatus with which the selecting device is associated. To this end we provide a member, including a plurality of recesses, which is organized to move in concert with the index wheel 16. Advantageously, such recessed member may comprise, as

we show it comprising, the side wall of wheel 16, and the recesses may be in form the orifices 35. There is one orifice 35 provided for each of the numbered positions in which the wheel 16 is adapted to be adjusted. Means are carried by the linkage (27 28, 29, 30, 31),

' to prevent or to withhold actuation of the linkage until wheel 16 is positioned to correspond with the setting of wheel such means comprise a pin or detent 36, which is secured to the distal end of lever 28, and, unless one or the other of said orifices is in registry with said detent, the detent will strike the side Wall of wheel 16, and thereupon will prevent the linkage from swinging about the axis of stem 27, to operate apparatus A.

When, however, an orifice 35 is in registry with detent 36, apparatus-operating movement of the linkage (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is permitted; the orifice, obviously, frees the detent of restraint,the detent entering the registering orifice when the linkage is actuated for operation of apparatus A.

The orifices 35 are so organized in wheel 16, that it is necessary that the numerical setting of the wheel 16 be made to correspond withthe setting of the index wheel 10, before any of the orifices will be in registry'with the detent 36. The drawings show wheel 10 set at 5; accordingl the arm lies in position tooperate pus button No. 5 on panel A; the wheel 16 is in such position that its setting (which is at the numeral 5) corresponds to that of wheel 10. Hence, one of the ori- -fices- (the orifice 35a) is in registry with 36 will be in'one of the orifices 35, preventing movement of the lever 38 in avertical plane. We have found that the connections 34 ma include a'yielding element-conveniently, it is a tension spring'37 secured at its either ends to the two-pieced rod 38. Accordingly, the wheel 10 may be adjusted whenthe detent 36 is in an orifice 35, the spring yielding to admit of such adjustment. When the detent presently is withdrawn from the orifice in which it is lodged, the spring will contract, or expand, as the case may be, and in contracting, or expanding, will effect the adjustment of lever 28. The resulting adjustment of the lever 28 will be the same as though the connections 34 were in fact an integral rod,

and as though the detent 36 had been lying without the orifices 35, when the wheel 10 was turned to adjustment. The spring 37 is secured to nut members 39 which are in threaded engagement with the respective rod portions 38; regulation of spring tension is so afi'orded.

The selecting mechanism above described 'may be duplicated, andsets of two or more of such mechanisms may be organized or compounded to accomplish still other results. In Fig. V of the drawings we show how three sets of the selecting mechanism may be adapted to operate a change-making machine. For purposes of illustration only, we have indicated diagrammatically three tubes X, Y and Z; tube X contains a supply of half dollars, tube Y contains dimes, and tube Z is supplied with pennies. V I

These tubes each include coin-releasing slides, and the coin-releasing structure may be of any well-known design. We are not immediately concerned with the coin-releasing structure, save in the following particu lars: Tube X is provided with a series of slides numbered from 0 to 9, and upon shift ing one or another of these slides to the right (FigQV) fifty-cent pieces will be discharged to an outlet M. That is to say, if the 0 slide is depressed no money is discharged; it slide No. 1 is shifted two half-dollars will be emitted; it slide No. 2 is shifted four coins wil be discharged; and so on, the shifting of any slide will cause the discharge oi dollars in fifty-cent pieces) equal to the numerical designation of the slide which is shifted.

Tube Y is similarly provided with slides (0 to 9), and, upon the appropriate shifting of one or another of the slides, any predetermined number of dimes, from one to nine,

may be discharged. Tube Z and its slides are 0 rative for dispensing pennies in a like manna; It is evident, therefore, that in selecting the number of dollars, dimes and pennies which the machine will discharge, the niaoiiine is capable of ejecting any chosen amount of change. In the illustrated apparatus any quantity of change from one cent up to and including nine dollars and ninetynine cents may be made by the machine. This particular machine is called the tendollar change-making machine; obviously, by further compounding or by increasing the organization 01 our selecting mechanisms a machine of greater changeanaking versatility may be provided.

In the change-making machine the same accuracy of operation is assured as in the mechanism first described. In operating it, each of the wheels 100 are first set at the figures which signify the desired chang e in the illustration it is 5il-5 (five dollars and five cents). Thus, the lovers 300 are shifted to position opposite such slides (04%) in each of tubes X, Y, Z, that ten halt dollars, no dimes, and five pennies will be discharged. An Olml'fitllig bar 320 is l".""'l'!.(.l at ft, F),

and c for the recept on of the three levers 280, and upon shit. i731 320 the right (Fig. V) ,the three i'ldl) a '2 caused to shift slide No. 5 on tube A. slide No. 0 on tube Y. and slide No. i on tn...

However, to insure accuracy in the setting of the change-making machine, it is necessary that a second set of wheels 1(0, corresponding to the wheels 100, shall be adjusted respectively to th same numerals HES the wheels of the first-mentioned group are adjusted, before a coindischarging actuation may be etfected. Each lever 280 carries, as the lever 28 carries, a detent 360. and each wheel 3.60 is provided with orifices 350, in the same manner that the wheel 16 is pro orifices Accordingly, each wl eel 160 must correspond in adjustment with its assooiatec wheel. 1.00, before each dctent will be in registry with an orifice 350. If the detents 360 are not each in registry with an orifice 350 7 then a shifting o l the bar 320 is preve ed; Figs. VI and VII of the drawings make this plain. When, however, the wheels 1630 correspond in ad ustment with the respective wheels 100, each of the detents is in registry with an orifice 350, and the bar 320, freed of restraint, may be actuated as indicated in Fig. VIII. Hence, the stems 270 (Fig. V) are rotated, and arms 300 are swung into coinreleasing position.

We claim as our invention:

1. In mechanisi'n for selectively controlling apparatus which is capable of accomplishing several different results, the combination of a manually adjustable index, movable means adapted to be altered in position according said index is adjusted, a second movable index, a linkage associated with said second index, which linkage is adapted to be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which said mechanism is associated, connections between said movable means and said linkage, hereby the linkage is adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of said firstmcntioned index, and means for withholding the above-defined actuation of said linkage until said second index is moved into position r:' ""csponding with the position o1": said firstlnen .ioned index.

2. In mechanism for selectively controlling apparatus which is capable of accomplishing several dill'erent results, the combination of a manually adj ustable wheel bearing numerals at intervals upon its peripheral face, movable means adapted to be altered in posi ion according as said wheel is adjusted, a second movable wheel bearing numerals upon its peripheral face, the numerals on said second wheel corresponding in value and in position. relative to each other with the numerals on the face of said first-mentioned wheel, a link age associated with said second wheel, which linkage adapted to be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which said mechanism is associated, connections between said movable means and said linkage, whereby the linkage is adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of said firstmcntioned wheel, and means for withholding the above-defined actuation of said linkage until said second wheel is moved into such position that its numerical adjustment corresponds to the numerical adjustment of said first-mentioned according as said index is adju e 1, mm a-ile more, a memoei :i (,,,.l(l;1l a

adapted to move in concert with said second I won or tl in, chanism is a Ill) said detent being adapted to withhold the above-defined actuation of said linkage until said second index is moved into such position that said recess is in registry with said detent.

4. In mechanism for selectively controlling apparatus which is capable of accomplishing several different results, the combination of a manually adjustable index, means adapted to be altered in position according as said index is adjusted, a second movable index, a member including a plurality of recesses adapted to move in concert with said second index, a linkage associated with said second index, a detent carried by said linkage, which linkage is adapted to be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which said mechanism is associated, connections between said movable means and said linkage, whereby the linkage is adjusted in accordance with the setting of said first-mentioned index, said detent being adapted to withhold the abovedefined actuation of said linkage until said second index is moved into position corresponding to the position of said first-mentioned index and one of said recesses is in registry with said detent. l

5. In mechanism for selectively controlling apparatus which is capable of accomplishing several different results, the combination of a manually adjustable wheel bearing numerals at intervals upon its peripheral face, movable means adapted to be altered in position according as said wheel is adjusted, a second movable wheel bearing numerals upon its peripheral face, the numerals on said second wheel corresponding in value and in relative position with the numerals on the 'face of the first-mentioned wheel, a member including a plurality of recesses adapted to move in concert with the said second index, a linkage associated with said second index, a detent carried by said linkage, which linkage is adapted to be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which said mechanism is associated, connections between said movable means and said linkage, whereby the linkage is adjusted in accordance with the setting of said first-mentioned index, said detent being adapted to withhold the above-defined actuation of said linkage until said second index is moved into position corresponding to the position of said first-mentioned index and one of said recesses is in registry with said detent.

6. In mechanism for selectively controlling apparatus which is capable of accomplishing several different results, the combination of a set of indices severally adjustable, movable means associated with each index, which movable means are adapted to be altered in position according as its associated index is adjusted, a second set of movable indices corresponding severally with the indices of said first-mentioned set, a linkage associated with each index of said second set, which linkages are adapted to be actuated to cause operation of the apparatus with which said mechanism is associated, connections between said movable means and said linkages, whereby the linkages are severally adjusted in accordance with the setting of the index with which it is associated, and means for withholding the above-defined actuation of said linkages until the indices of said second set are moved into position corresponding respectively with the positions of the indices in said first-mentioned set.

7. The combination of claim 6, in which said indices comprise each a wheel bearing 

